Vintage Equipment Find

[Millstonemike]

No, I didn't find something (sorry). But for all those that do an interesting excerpt from Wikipedia:

"Electrolytic capacitors will self-degrade if unused for a period (around a year), and when full power is applied may short circuit, permanently damaging the capacitor and usually blowing a fuse or causing failure of rectifier diodes (for instance, in older equipment, arcing in rectifier tubes). They can be restored before use (and damage) by gradually applying the operating voltage, often done on antique vacuum tube equipment over a period of 30 minutes by using a variable transformer to supply AC power. Unfortunately, the use of this technique may be less satisfactory for some solid state equipment, which may be damaged by operation below its normal power range, requiring that the power supply first be isolated from the consuming circuits. Such remedies may not be applicable to modern high-frequency power supplies as these produce full output voltage even with reduced input."

[thekorvers]

Interesting. Did not realize that degradation set in so quickly!

[Æ]

Interesting. Did not realize that degradation set in so quickly!

It isn't much of a problem anymore, modern electrolytics typically have excellent shelf life. I'd certainly hate to think that a lot of my seldom used electronics and parts would degrade that rapidly. Explosions are fun, but also costly and messy.

[Millstonemike]

It isn't much of a problem anymore, modern electrolytics typically have excellent shelf life. I'd certainly hate to think that a lot of my seldom used electronics and parts would degrade that rapidly. Explosions are fun, but also costly and messy.

Very true. But as the post title implies, for vintage equipment. I would imagine that the new owner would intend to replace caps. I take this is a caution to resist the urge to turn it on.

[Æ]

Very true. But as the post title implies, for vintage equipment. I would imagine that the new owner would intend to replace caps. I take this is a caution to resist the urge to turn it on.

The title of your post is misleading, I was expecting to read about a vintage equipment find.

[thekorvers]

It isn't much of a problem anymore, modern electrolytics typically have excellent shelf life.

Yes that makes sense. I can't imagine new parts having such a short shelf life. But I am still surprised by even vintage equipment parts being that short lived.

Very true. But as the post title implies, for vintage equipment. I would imagine that the new owner would intend to replace caps. I take this is a caution to resist the urge to turn it on.

That advice may be useful, but honestly I doubt that a person acquiring a piece of vintage equipment could resist turning it on or testing it before starting to replace parts.